More South Jersey Churches Merging

Four more Roman Catholic churches in the Camden Diocese will soon be consolidated into a new parish that will serve about 2,600 families.

The latest change, which takes effect Oct. 13, involves Cumberland County churches.

Bishop Joseph Galante says the Parish of the Holy Cross will be formed by merging two Bridgeton churches - St. Teresa of Avila and Immaculate Conception - with St. Mary in Deerfield Township, St. Michael in Lawrence Township and St. Michael's mission, St. Anthony
in Commercial Township.

The new parish will be based at St. Teresa of Avila Church, but Galante says the other churches will continue as worship sites.

The consolidation is the latest in a series of mergers in a diocesan-wide reconfiguration meant to strengthen parishes and improve pastoral care to members. Galante has issued 26 merger decrees since June 2009, and several have been met with resistance from some churchgoers.

In making their decisions, church officials have considered several issues, including population and demographic trends, the number of diocesan priests available for ministry, Mass attendance and trends in religious practice.

The Camden diocese includes Cape May, Atlantic, Cumberland, Salem, Gloucester and Camden counties.